diff --git a/RELEASES.markdown b/RELEASES.markdown
index dff3d77..35cf13f 100644
--- a/RELEASES.markdown
+++ b/RELEASES.markdown
@@ -1,4 +1,9 @@
-This file notes feature differences and bugfixes contained between releases. 
+This file notes feature differences and bugfixes contained between releases.
+
+### v1.9.0 ###
+
+* Semaphores!
+* shared/exclusive lock fixes
 
 ### v1.8.0 ###
 
diff --git a/lib/zk/version.rb b/lib/zk/version.rb
index 871f018..65f50cd 100644
--- a/lib/zk/version.rb
+++ b/lib/zk/version.rb
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 module ZK
-  VERSION = "1.8.0"
+  VERSION = "1.9.0"
 end